Mumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt’s co-star in the Munnabhai series Arshad Warsi heaved a sigh of relief at Dutt's acquittal under the provisions of TADA in the 1993 blasts case.
“I’m relieved but would have been happier if he had not been held guilty at all,” said Warsi.
He added that he was grateful the actor had been convicted on "milder" charges.
Talking to CNN-IBN, Warsi said now they all hoped that he gets bail and comes home soon.
“He’s not a terrorist. In all the years I have worked with him I have found that he is fed up with the case and just wants to get it over with. So he must be partly relieved right now. It could have been worse,” he said.
Warsi, who played Circuit, the sidekick to Sanjay's Munnabhai in the two hit films, said, "Eveybody makes mistakes, big or small and every actor in the film industry at one point of time must have thought of possessing a weapon. We all fear for our security. I get calls even though I am a nobody.”
The actor’s message for Dutt was loud and clear. “Sanju, the whole country loves you. I hope you get bail and come home soon as I want to hug you,” he said.
On Bollywood’s part, for the actor who has been on top for 20 years, there is much sympathy.
He is an important person in the industry and there is over Rs 160-cr worth of money riding on him.
In the industry, Dutt is known more as a friend especially to directors, producers and junior artistes.
The general sentiment of all his colleagues is that he has suffered for 13 years and has been ‘living in borrowed time’, as one filmmaker who did not want to be named, put it.
Here are the reactions of some of Sanju's colleagues and others who have known him as a kid:
“He has been living in a jail at home as well. I have told him to settle down but he says that if I get convicted what will my wife do while I am in jail”
— Actor and Filmmaker, Sajid Khan
“The tag of terrorist is not on his head, that's the best part”
— Actor, Jackie Shroff
“He has spent 13 years of life living on borrowed lifetime. I love him.”
— Actor, John Abraham
“It’s been proven by the legal system of the country that Sanju is not a conspirator and he is innocent on that.”
— Filmmaker, Karan Johar
“I don’t believe that he had anything to do with the charges that are leveled against him.”
— Actor, Fardeen Khan
“Sanjay Dutt is God’s favourite child. The amount of strength that man has, the amount he has suffered.”
— VJ and Singer, Sophie
“I don’t believe that Sunil Dutt and Nargis’s son is guilty of conspiring against the nation. I know him personally and I can assure you that he can never do something like that.” — Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh
“I’ve always supported him and his cause. But now since the case is in court, and I believe in law, I would not like to comment on the issue.” — Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha
“We are all very happy. All of us who know him know the fact that he is an extremely nice human being. From the spotboys to the producers, all of us have been praying for him unanimously because he is so dear to everyone…He is a fantastic actor and an extremely genuine and a kind hearted human being… He has been more than strong through the ordeal. He was very dedicated towards his work despite all the stresses he has gone through.” — Actress, Vidya Balan, who acted opposite him in Parineeta and Lage Raho Munnabhai
“He should not be punished to set an example for celebrities. The law should be fair, equal and objective towards everyone.”
— Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan
“I’m sure even for Sanju it must be a great relief that the verdict is out and it’s over. The most wonderful thing about today’s verdict is that he is out of the connection with the bomb blasts. We always had that conviction in him. He is a wondeful guy.”
— Producer, Ramesh Sippy
I feel that the bigger deal is over. There is hope atleast that he could bail and things could seem brighter for him. I know him from many occasions and also working with him and I think he is a fabulous human being. A kind of person who wouldn’t even harm an ant.”
— Actor and colleague, Dino Morea
“Innocence. It’s wonderful that he has been absolved of the charge that he is not part of the big big plot. And I think we should be focussing on that. And I hope and pray things will be all fine.”
— Actor and colleague, Boman Irani
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